Before “Not The Onion,” before social, there was simply The Onion

You know and love The Onion. Maybe you even remember it in print! We all know how it’s shaped our culture, but that’s not why we love it in the moment. The Onion at its best is funny and insightful about our society, and it created a universe of “Area Man” characters, local columnists and a style that many imitated but few could match.

We’re 20 years into this century and 20 years, give or take a few, from The Onion’s cultural peak. So let’s look back at that era.

Sign up to get a weekly look — each Sunday — at what The Onion was doing 20 years ago.* Here’s a sample issue.